A devastating midair collision over Washington, D.C., has left multiple people dead after a passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night. The tragedy unfolded when the American Airlines Bombardier jet, operated by its subsidiary PSA, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Reagan National Airport. Both aircraft plunged into the near-freezing waters, sparking a massive and highly complex rescue operation.
Authorities have yet to confirm an official death toll, but multiple sources report that at least 18 bodies have been recovered. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several athletes, coaches, and officials were aboard the ill-fated flight, while Russian authorities stated that world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also among the passengers.
Emergency responders, including 300 personnel, have been working tirelessly under treacherous conditions. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the situation as “extremely rough,” with divers braving ice-cold, murky waters in the pitch-black night. “We’re going to be out there as long as it takes,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser reassured the public.
Eyewitness Ari Schulman, who saw the collision, described the horrifying moment the plane caught fire midair, comparing it to a “Roman candle.” He recounted how the aircraft initially appeared normal before it suddenly banked sharply, erupting in flames and trailing sparks before impact.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the tragedy, first offering condolences before criticizing air traffic control for allowing the collision to happen. He questioned why the helicopter did not adjust its altitude or course, calling the incident a “preventable disaster” on his Truth Social platform.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded all flights at Reagan National Airport, with operations expected to resume Thursday morning. American Airlines’ CEO expressed “deep sorrow” over the tragedy, while Kansas Senator Roger Marshall described the event as “nothing short of a nightmare.”
Investigators are now grappling with how such a collision could have occurred in Washington’s heavily monitored airspace. The region is known for its busy flight paths, with constant air traffic from commercial planes, military aircraft, and government helicopters. The crash has drawn comparisons to the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 disaster, in which a Boeing 737 crashed into the same river, killing 78 people.
With rescue and recovery efforts still ongoing, the focus remains on locating more victims and determining the cause of this heartbreaking tragedy.
